28 February 2024 , 17:03
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Actor Richard Dormer has suffered a devastating loss as his family shared a heartbreaking statement.
The Irish star is best known for his role in popular BBC television series Blue Lights. He stars as fan favourite PC Gerald ‘Gerry’ Cliff and will make a reappearance in the role in series two, set to be released later this year. Richard's family have since shared the sad news his mother Barbara has died.
She passed away in a nursing home in Hillsborough, Northern Ireland on Sunday. Barbara is described as the “wife of Roger, beloved mother of Michelle, Paul and Richard and dearly loved grandmother of Rebecca, Amber, Hannah and Aimile.”
Richard has become one of Northern Ireland's most famous faces in recent years, having starred in Game of Thrones and in Sky series Fortitude. He trained at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art after being raised in Portadown. Richard secured his big break by writing and starring in Hurricane.
Richard is known for his role in Blue Lights as Gerry Cliff (BBC/Gallagher Films/Two Cities Television/Steffan Hill)The play was based on the life and career of snooker legend Alex Higgins and managed to win Richard The Stage’s award for Best Actor in 2003. He has also played Terri Hooley in Good Vibrations, which was based on the iconic Belfast punk band and scene. The actor most recently held a small role in Marvel’s Secret Invasion.
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Blue Lights was a huge success during its first series, and the next instalment is set to be released later this year. The characters will deal with the fallout following a storyline involving Richard's character. It has also been renewed for a third and fourth series. The first series of Blue Lights was set in Belfast and aired on the BBC last year.
It followed three probationary period police officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland assigned to the fictional Blackthorn Station in Belfast. New stars are set to join the exiting cast for series two, including Normal People's Frank Blake as Constable Shane Bradley as well as Seamus O’Hara, who starred in the Academy Award-winning short film An Irish Goodbye, as Lee Thompson.
Bad Sisters star Seána Kerslake will play Lee's sister Mags. A synopsis has teased: “Grace, Annie and Tommy are growing up fast as police officers, but nothing can prepare them for the turmoil they face every day. It’s a year since the fall of the McIntyre crime gang and the vacuum has been filled by rival gangs, all competing for dominance.
“Constable Shane Bradley is drafted in to help, but his motivations are unclear. Tommy is dangerously seduced by the world of intelligence policing, while Grace struggles to deal with her son’s absence, and growing feelings for fellow officer Stevie. As a young loyalist threatens to take over the city, the officers face a major gangland feud – culminating in a violent and devastating confrontation.”